Amazon"s Kindle Fire tablet will get a new and larger version this fall, according to a new report. Reuters states via unnamed sources that the new version of the Kindle tablet will have an 8.9 inch screen, compared to the seven inch screen that"s on the current Kindle Fire tablet. That will still make it smaller than the current iPad from Apple which has a 10 inch screen.
There"s no other details on the new Kindle tablet, such as its processor, operating system or even if it will keep the Kindle Fire name. Amazon has yet to comment.
The same report claims that Amazon is working on a new version of its Kindle eReader device that will include a front light. That version is expected to be released sometime in July. Barnes and Noble recently launched a version of its Nook Simple Reader device with a front "Glowlight" that allows users to read eBooks in the dark. That product sells for $139.
One of the concerns for Amazon in adding such a front light feature is that the battery life of the device would likely be reduced. As far as pricing, a front light for the Kindle eReader would only generate a slight price hike for the device; in fact, the article claims that Amazon might not raise its price at all.
Barnes and Noble recently announced a partnership with Microsoft that might lead to the Nook business spinning off from the bookseller. There has been much speculation that a future version of the Nook tablet could run on a port of Windows 8.